Jimmy Whittaker

Jimmy Gale Whittaker, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis.

He was born May 10, 1946, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Aldena W. Whittaker.

He and Alice Riehn were married Feb. 27, 1970, at Southside Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

He served in the 20th Helicopter Squadron of the Air Force in Vietnam.

He worked 30 years as a towboat engineer, mostly with Pevely Towing. After retirement, he worked as a courier for local banks.

He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.

He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 and a member of River Valley Wood Carvers. He was also a master gardener.

Survivors include his wife, Alice Whittaker; two daughters, Jennifer (Todd) Stevens and Jessica Whittaker of Cape Girardeau; two stepsons, Albert (Lynn) Koerber of Booneville, Mississippi, and Timothy (Colleen) Koerber of Festus, Missouri; and four grandchildren, Zachariah Stevens, Jaina and Yoram Koerber and Vanessa Cuellar.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Aldena W. Gibson.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Frank Burgess officiating. Full military honors will be provided by Missouri Honors Team at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Heart Association.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.